Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion ICPNC -SL

10/07/2026

Happening Now: ICPNC at the National Civil Registration Authority - NCRA

Today, the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion - ICPNC is engaging the National Civil Registration Authority in Freetown.

From Parliament, to ONS, to IPCB, and now to NCRA - our focus is the same: how do we deliver on the Agreement for National Unity by December?

We are discussing how civil registration and identity form the foundation for peace and development.
When every Sierra Leonean is counted and recognized, it becomes easier to access healthcare, education, and justice. It also helps government plan better for communities.

Because peace starts with inclusion. And inclusion starts with being seen.

10/07/2026

Building a culture of peace: Students at Government Technical Institute, Moyamba engaged on National Cohesion

The importance of peace, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence took centre stage as the Southern Regional Office of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) engaged students and staff of the Government Technical Institute (GTI), Moyamba, on the role young people can play in promoting a more peaceful and cohesive Sierra Leone.

The courtesy and sensitization visit focused on strengthening students’ understanding of non-violent conflict resolution, dialogue, and the shared responsibility of citizens in building a culture of peace within schools and communities.

Leading the engagement, the Regional Coordinator for the South, Belinda Ndanema, highlighted the vital role young people play in shaping the future of the nation. She encouraged students to embrace dialogue, reject violence, and become peace ambassadors who promote tolerance, unity, and responsible citizenship among their peers and in their communities.

She also emphasized the importance of establishing a School Peace Club at GTI, describing it as a platform that would encourage student leadership, strengthen relationships among learners, and promote peaceful approaches to resolving disagreements.

Welcoming the initiative, the Registrar of GTI, Mr. Paul Sahr Ndomaina, expressed appreciation to ICPNC for the timely engagement. He noted that peace education is essential in developing responsible, disciplined, and socially conscious young people, and welcomed the proposed establishment of a Peace Club at the institution.

The Principal of GTI, Mr. Joseph Sahr Joe, also commended the Commission’s continued efforts to promote peace and national cohesion among young people. He reaffirmed the school’s commitment to supporting the initiative and creating an inclusive and safe learning environment where students can thrive.

The visit concluded with a renewed commitment between ICPNC and the leadership of GTI to collaborate in nurturing a culture of peace, tolerance, and respect, while empowering students to become active champions of peaceful coexistence within their institution and beyond.

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10/07/2026

Some voices don't just speak - they leave us with something to think about.

In moments of uncertainty, it's easy to believe that conflict has the final word. History, however, teaches us otherwise. Every lasting breakthrough begins when people choose dialogue over division and understanding over hostility.

This reflection from Hassan Kamara is a reminder that peace isn't the easy path - it's the enduring one.

At ICPNC, we remain committed to creating platforms where conversations inspire action and strengthen national cohesion.

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

Happening now: ICPNC at IPCB

This afternoon, ICPNC is engaging the Independent Police Complaints Board here in Freetown.

This dialogue follows our sessions with Parliament and the Office of National Security.

At IPCB, the conversation is about oversight, redress, and restoring confidence between citizens and institutions.

The Agreement for National Unity and Tripartite recommendations remind us: governance is only as strong as the systems that hold it accountable.

We’re reviewing how institutional commitments translate into practice, with December as our implementation milestone.

Because a united Sierra Leone must also be a fair Sierra Leone.

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09/07/2026

Happening now!

In dialogue today

Day 3 takes us to the Office of National Security in Freetown.

Following yesterday’s engagement with the APC in Parliament, ICPNC is continuing consultations on the key recommendations from the Agreement for National Unity.

Today’s focus: how security institutions can anchor the progress made so far from institutional reforms to the Tripartite commitments as we push toward full implementation by December.

Peace and development require institutions that are resilient, responsive, and inclusive. That’s the conversation we’re having at ONS today.

A united Sierra Leone is built step by step, institution by institution.

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08/07/2026

Peace starts at home

This Thursday on AYV-ICPNC Peace Hour, we’re asking: can stronger families and tighter communities build a stronger, more peaceful Sierra Leone?

Join Hawa Barrie as she hosts:
Francis Mustapha Sengeh from ICPNC
Worokia Conteh from the Ministry of Social Welfare

We’ll talk real issues, real solutions, and how each of us can play a part.

📅 Thursday 9th July, 2026

⏰ 5:00PM - 6:00PM

📺 Live on AYV TV, AYV Radio + AYV & ICPNC pages

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08/07/2026

From Lomé to lasting peace: Why the conversation must continue

Every nation has defining moments that shape its future. For Sierra Leone, the signing of the Lomé Peace Accord on 7 July 1999 remains one of those defining moments. The Accord did not erase the pain of war overnight, nor did it provide immediate solutions to the deep wounds left by years of conflict. What it represented, however, was something equally powerful - a collective decision to choose dialogue over violence, reconciliation over revenge, and hope over despair.

More than two decades later, that decision continues to shape the Sierra Leone we know today. For the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), the anniversary of the Lomé Peace Accord is more than a moment to remember history. It is an opportunity to reflect on a fundamental truth: peace is never a finished achievement; it is a continuous national responsibility.

The Lomé process reminded Sierra Leone that sustainable peace cannot be built through political agreements alone. Peace must also be nurtured in homes, schools, market places, places of worship, communities and institutions. It depends on citizens who choose understanding over division, leaders who embrace dialogue over confrontation, and institutions that create spaces where differences can be addressed peacefully.

One of the Accord's most enduring contributions was the recognition that lasting peace requires both confronting the past and preparing for the future. The establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) reflected the understanding that healing begins with truth, acknowledgement and a commitment to reconciliation. The broader peace building efforts that followed reinforced the importance of strengthening institutions, protecting human rights and preventing the conditions that allow conflict to emerge. Those lessons remain deeply relevant today.

While Sierra Leone has made significant progress since the end of the civil war, peace and national cohesion require continuous attention. Emerging challenges, including political tensions, misinformation, hate speech, youth vulnerability, electoral disputes and community-level conflicts, remind us that peace cannot be taken for granted. These challenges may differ from those faced in 1999, but they require the same principles that guided the peace process: dialogue, trust-building, inclusion and collective responsibility. This is why the work of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion remains critical in translating the lessons of our past into practical action for today's realities.

Every community dialogue facilitated, every mediation conducted, every early warning mechanism strengthened, every peace education program delivered, and every partnership built contributes to safeguarding the peace that previous generations worked so hard to achieve. Peace building is not only about responding when conflict occurs - it is about creating the conditions that make conflict less likely. As we reflect on the significance of the Lomé Peace Accord, we honor the courage and resilience of Sierra Leoneans who endured one of the darkest chapters in our nation's history. We also recognize the contributions of national leaders, community actors, regional organizations and international partners whose commitment, diplomacy and dedication helped open the path towards peace and recovery.

Their legacy reminds us that lasting peace is never the responsibility of one person, one institution or one generation. It is a shared commitment. The greatest tribute we can pay to the Lomé Peace Accord is not simply to remember it. It is to live its lessons. It is to reject violence in all its forms, respect the dignity of every citizen, encourage meaningful dialogue despite our differences, and ensure that future generations inherit a Sierra Leone where peace is not merely remembered as history, but experienced as a daily reality.

As the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, we reaffirm our commitment to working with government institutions, political parties, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, women, young people, development partners and every Sierra Leonean to strengthen national cohesion and safeguard our shared future.

The Lomé Peace Accord opened a door.

It is our shared responsibility to ensure that Sierra Leone continues to walk through that door towards greater peace, unity and cohesion. Because peace is not a destination reached once - it is a choice renewed every day.

Photo Credit: BBC News Africa

08/07/2026

🔴 Happening now!

Day 2: ICPNC is in Parliament this afternoon with the APC for dialogue on key recommendations of the Agreement for National Unity.

We’re assessing progress on institutional commitments and the Tripartite recommendations as we work toward timely implementation by December.

Goal: stronger institutions, inclusive decisions, and a united Sierra Leone.

08/07/2026

Respect builds bridges. Dialogue strengthens nations.

Leadership is measured not only by the positions we hold, but by our willingness to engage one another with respect, even when we hold different views.

When leaders demonstrate civility, mutual respect and open dialogue, they send a powerful message that our shared commitment to Sierra Leone is greater than our differences.

At the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), we believe that every act of respectful engagement strengthens national cohesion, builds trust and reinforces the values that unite us as one people.

Together, let us continue to choose dialogue over division, understanding over hostility, and peace over conflict.

A peaceful Sierra Leone begins with the example we set.

Photo credit: Office of the National Chairman SLPP

ICPNC set up by an Act of Parliament December 2020 to undertake measures to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts..